Tidy tube stand with removable support member

ABSTRACT

A tube stand has a base with an interior space for receiving a spent portion of a tube, a panel removably attached to the bottom of the base, and a sleeve removably attached to the cover of the base. The sleeve preferably has a pseudo-conical shape with a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end. The sleeve provides vertical support for the upper portion of the tube but is advantageously removed to allow the base to still neatly hold the tube in an accessible manner when it is nearly empty. An alternative embodiment uses a lid with wedge blocks having V-shaped ramp surfaces that guide the end of the tube into a slot, the ramp surfaces providing lateral support for the tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/827,623 filed Sep. 29, 2006, which is hereby incorporated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for dispensing fluids or gels from deformable containers, and more particularly to a device that facilitates dispensing of material from a collapsible tube, such as toothpaste.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of devices have been devised to help people empty material from a small deformable container such as a toothpaste tube. The simplest of these devices consists of a squeezing implement or clip such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 378,557. That device is a flat, hand-held article having a slot that receives the closed end of the tube. This clip allows a person to feed the end of the tube through the slot to expend the tube. The slot forces the sidewalls of the tube together, expressing the material toward the open end. These types of clips can be used until the tube is very nearly empty. They are also are conveniently small and easy to use, but the tail of the tube is left hanging out one side of the slot in an unattractive manner.

An improvement to this basic implement has a spool that allows the spent portion of the toothpaste tube to be neatly rolled-up. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,994 wherein a reel is housed in a cylindrical cartridge. As the user rotates the reel relative to the housing the tube is pulled into a slot in the housing, compressing the toothpaste. That dispenser provides braking elements to inhibit unreeling of the tube.

This roll-up feature may be combined with a stand to more conveniently hold the tube and free one of the user's hands, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,564. That dispenser has a reel mechanism mounted on a heavy base, and a tube support member on the base to support the open end of the tube. While this design is functional, it has a large footprint and thus can take up an undue amount of space on a small bathroom counter.

Other stand designs having smaller footprints hold a tube in a generally upright position. For example, the dispenser described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0178804 maintains a tube vertically. However, this design uses compression plates and actuating elements that require many moving parts, which increases manufacturing cost and the likelihood of device failure. Additional dispenser designs which keep the tube upright are depicted in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0232164. Those designs use two counter-rotating rollers in a wringer style element to pull and squeeze the tube. The multiplicity of part, including moving parts, again makes this article more expensive and easier to break.

Two simpler stand designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,976,380 and 6,056,159. The holder disclosed in the '159 patent is particularly simple and does not even have a slot or other squeeze mechanism to express the toothpaste from the tube. The stand disclosed in the '380 patent has a slot in the midsection and a base which receives the spent portion of the tube. However, both of these designs suffer from the design flaw of lacking support for the uppermost portion of the tube when it is mostly full. Because of this lack of support, it is easy for the tube to sag or bend and fall out of the holder (in the '159 design) or tip the stand over (in the '380 design)

In light of the foregoing, it would be desirable to devise an improved tube holder or stand which could keep the tube upright to reduce its footprint and provide support for the uppermost portion of the tube, and yet be simple to manufacture, with few or no moving parts. It would be further advantageous if the tube stand could neatly retain the spent portion of the tube and also be usable even when the tube is very nearly empty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide to provide an improved dispenser for a deformable container such as a toothpaste tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an improved dispenser which holds the tube in a generally upright position and accordingly has a smaller footprint.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tube stand which provides squeezable support for the uppermost portion of a tube when the tube is mostly full and is still usable when the tube is nearly empty.

The foregoing objects are achieved in a tube stand comprising a base having an interior space for receiving a spent portion of a tube, a panel removably attached to the bottom of the base, and a flexible sleeve removably attached to the cover of the base. The flexible sleeve is preferably elastomeric and is removably attached to the cover of the base using mating features which provide a releasable fit. The flexible sleeve may have a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end. The sleeve provides vertical support for the upper portion of the tube but is advantageously removed to allow the base to still neatly hold the tube in an accessible manner when it is nearly empty.

The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tube stand of the present invention, deployed with a mostly full tube of toothpaste;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tube stand of FIG. 1 with a portion of the base and squeezable sleeve cut away to show the spent portion of the tube contained in the base;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tube stand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tube stand of FIG. 1 with the upper sleeve removed for use when the tube is nearly empty;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tube stand according to the present invention, deployed with a tube of toothpaste; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the tube stand of FIG. 5 with the lid raised slightly above the base.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted one embodiment 10 of a tube stand constructed in accordance with the present invention. Tube stand 10 is generally comprised of a body or base 12, a floor panel 14 removably attached to the bottom of base 12, and a cone or sleeve 16 removably attached to the top of base 12. In FIG. 1 tube stand 10 is shown supporting a mostly full tube 18 a in an upright position. The flattened (sealed) end of tube 18 a fits within a slot 19 formed in the top of base 12. In the illustrative embodiment base 12 is box-like, with generally rectangular side walls and a rectangular top cover. Floor panel 14 is consequently also generally rectangular. Sleeve 16 is preferably pseudo-conical, having a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end, but it could take other shapes such as frusto-conical. The pseudo-conical design is preferred since it has an elongate shape proximate slot 19 (with the long axis aligned with the slot) but conforms at the top to the circular cross-section of the uppermost portion of the tube, i.e., it has a smaller diameter at the top than the length (major axis) at the bottom.

FIG. 2 illustrates tube stand 10 supporting a partially expended tube 18 b. Base 12 provides a storage space for the spent portion of tube 18 b, imparting an overall tidy appearance. Floor panel 14 serves to contain the expended tube within base 12.

Floor panel 14 and sleeve 16 may be attached to base 12 in any convenient manner. As seen in FIG. 3, in the illustrative embodiment floor panel 14 is attached to base 12 using small ribs 20 formed on the mating edges of floor panel 14 which engage grooves 22 along the exterior surface of base 12 to provide a releasable friction fit, and sleeve 16 may be provided with resilient legs or clips 24 along its lower edge which releasably engage matching holes 26 in the top of base 12. Those parts can thus be easily detached and re-attached manually (see FIG. 3), making the device reusable. The exterior surfaces of base 12 and sleeve 16 provide space for advertising or a label explaining use of the device.

With further reference to FIG. 4, when the tube is mostly spent, sleeve 16 can be removed from base 12 to allow the top of the nearly empty tube 18c to be squeezed directly. This feature allows the user to more completely expel the last available bit of the tube contents.

Use of tube stand 10 thus includes three stages of initial installation, renewal of the tube, and final emptying of the tube. For initial installation, the user firmly squeezes the sides of sleeve 16 to release legs 24 from holes 26 and places the sleeve to the side. The bottom seam of tube 18 is inserted into slot 19 in base 12, and sleeve 16 is placed about the top of tube 18 and lowered down until legs 24 firmly engage the matching holes 26, surrounding the tube. The contents of the tube are thereafter forced out of the tube by either directly squeezing the tube or gently squeezing the sides of sleeve 16 to compress the sides of the tube. When enough of the tube contents have been removed to the point that an upper portion of the tube is deformed and becomes slightly flaccid, it is necessary to renew the tube by removing floor panel 14 from base 12 and pulling the bottom seam of the tube which pulls the midsection of the tube through slot 19. The bottom seam is pulled until the upper portion of the tube is taut, the spent portion of the tube is folded or rolled up and stuffed within base 12, and floor panel 14 is replaced against the bottom of the base. This procedure results in expelling the contents from a taut or nearly taut tube. Renewing the tautness is done when either the squeezing becomes difficult or the tube, even supported, does not stand vertical. Renewal of the tube makes the expelling of the contents easier and restores the uprightness of the tube. This step is repeated until the tube is nearly empty and short, i.e., about the height of sleeve 16. At that point sleeve 16 is released from base 12 and removed, and the user can directly squeeze the final contents from the top portion of the tube.

Base 12 and floor panel 14 may be constructed of any durable rigid material, preferably an injection-molded polymer. Sleeve 16 may be made of the same material or be made of a flexible material, preferably an injection-molded elastomer that is strong enough to provide support to the keep the upper portion of the tube upright. The dimensions of the components of tube stand 10 may vary considerably depending on the application. The following approximate dimensions are deemed exemplary for dispensing from a small (˜1 ounce) toothpaste tube: base 12 has a length of 2.25″, a width of 1.5″, and a height of 1″; floor panel 14 has outside dimensions of 2.37″×1.62″×0.15″ with an inner wall thickness of 0.06″; the top of sleeve 16 has a an inner diameter of 1.2″, the bottom of sleeve 16 has inner diameters (elliptical major and minor axes) of 1.6″ and 1.2″, and the height of sleeve 16 is 1″. Base 12 and sleeve 16 have a thickness of 0.06″ and panel 14 has a thickness of 0.15″. The height of sleeve 16 may in particular vary according to the particular tube being used, and the inner diameter at the top end of sleeve 16 is preferably just slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter of the tube. The product may be sold as a kit which includes adjustable sleeves or multiple sleeves having different heights, diameters and/or shapes to accommodate different tubes. The sleeves or cones provide vertical support for longer tubes (i.e., tubes that are mostly full), but are advantageously removable to allow base 12 to still neatly hold the tube in an accessible manner when it is nearly empty, all the while possessing a very small footprint to conserve space on the bathroom counter or other horizontal surface.

Another embodiment 30 of the tube stand of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Tube stand 30 includes a generally rectangular, hollow base 32 and a generally planar lid 34 which covers the top opening of base 32. The interior portion of base 32 is sized to accommodate the expended end portion of tube 18. Lid 34 has a deck or ridge 36 along its lower surface to provide a friction fit with upper edge of the interior walls of base 32. Lid 34 further has a cavity 38 with a slot 40 therein. The expended end of tube 18 is inserted into slot 40 from the top side and then pulled through from the bottom side. The edges of slot 40 pinch and flatten the tube end to push the remaining tube contents toward the open end of tube 18.

Lid 34 has two wedge blocks 42 a, 42 b mounted on the upper surface thereof, on either side of slot 40. Wedge blocks 42 a, 42 b are also preferably integrally molded with lid 34. The inward sides of each wedge block 42 a, 42 b are downwardly inclined, forming a V-shape having an apex at slot 40 to guide the expended end of tube 18 into slot 40. These inward ramp surfaces provide lateral support for tube 18. In the exemplary embodiment the ramp surfaces of wedge blocks 42 a, 42 b are ¼″ wide and ½″ long.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A method of dispensing contents of a deformable tube having a closed end and an open end, comprising: inserting the closed end of the tube through a slot in a cover of a base; removably attaching a sleeve to the base cover, the sleeve surrounding an upper portion of the tube; and compressing the upper portion of the tube to expel the contents of the tube through the open end.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the base on a surface, with the sleeve supporting the tube in an upright position.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is constructed of a flexible material, and the upper portion of the tube is compressed by squeezing the sides of the flexible sleeve.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising pulling the closed end of the tube from a bottom side of the slot until the upper portion of the tube is taut, and placing a spent portion of the tube within the base.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising removably attaching a panel to an open bottom of the base to contain the spent portion within the base.
 6. The method of claim 4 further comprising removing the sleeve from the base cover and squeezing an uppermost portion of the tube that was surrounded by the sleeve to expel additional contents of the tube.
 7. A tube stand comprising: a base having side walls, a cover, a slot formed in the cover, an open bottom, and an interior space for receiving a spent portion of a tube; a panel removably attached to the bottom of said base; and a sleeve removably attached to the cover of said base.
 8. The tube stand of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is constructed of an elastomeric material.
 9. The tube stand of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is removably attached to the cover of said base using mating features which provide a releasable fit.
 10. The tube stand of claim 7 wherein said sleeve has a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end.
 11. The tube stand of claim 7 wherein said sleeve has a smaller inner diameter at the top than at the bottom.
 12. A tube stand comprising: a hollow base having a top opening; and a lid removably attached to said base and covering the opening, said lid having a slot therein for receiving an expended end of a collapsible tube, and having at least first and second wedge blocks located on an upper surface thereof, said first and second wedge blocks being located on opposite sides of the slot and having inward ramp surfaces forming a V-shape whose apex coincides with the slot, said wedge blocks providing lateral support for the collapsible tube.
 13. The tube stand of claim 12 wherein: said base is generally rectangular; and said lid is generally rectangular and has a deck along a lower surface thereof which provides a friction fit with inner walls of said base.
 14. The tube stand of claim 12 wherein said wedge blocks are integrally molded with said lid. 